How Long Will Heroin Withdrawal Last?

The duration of heroin withdrawal coincides with its clearance rate, such that, withdrawal symptoms typically linger for 7-days or so. There is another element involved in heroin withdrawal that is rarely talked about. That element is “neuroplasticity.” So what the heck is neuroplasticity?

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to dynamically reorganize itself. What does that mean? Well, it means, as the environment in the brain changes, either by injury, or new situations, such as toxins in the brain, which includes drugs like heroin, the brain will use other neurons to compensate for these changes.

In the case of heroin, specific brain regions are suppressed during heroin use. These regions become hyperactive during withdrawal. The degree to which these areas reconfigured themselves during the period of heroin use, is the degree to which they must revert back following cessation. The period of time those neurons take to revert back, is how long heroin withdrawal actually lasts.

The healthier the brain the quicker it bounces back. In contrast, the unhealthier the brain, which is often dependent upon age, but not necessarily, the less neuroplasticity, thus the longer it takes to bounce back.

PAWS

Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome is the extension of withdrawal symptoms for an atypical period. Usually much longer than normal. The neuroplasticity of the individual’s brain plays a critical role in this phenomenon.

Comments

I just got out of a detoxification a week ago today, which was a bit rough, but I have been through withdrawals many times so I know what to expect. I don’t know why I keep going back, but I got out and started right back up again just a day later. Now I am been doing it everyday – for almost a week straight. Pretty much a half gram a day. How long do you think the withdrawal symptoms will last this go around? I know I’m dumb etc etc, but please positive honest feedback only.

I’m sick of this shit! I’m willing to do anything to stop. I need to kick but I don’t know how. I’m not one to buy “H” so I shake my own shit but I’ve come to realize that the only reason I sell “H” is to keep myself from getting sick. I really want no part of this f’d up life. H is the DEVIL HIMSELF SO IF ANYONE CAN TELL ME HOW TO QUIT AND WHERE TO GET WHAT I need TO QUIT, I would be grateful.

I have been using heroin off and for 13 years. I found the holy grail of how to quit heroin with almost no withdrawals. First, you must have the following: 20-30 tramadol,10 to 25 1mg klonopin, subutex or suboxone, seraquil, and neurontin. The trick is to take 5 klonopin a few hours before you get sick, then 4 tramadol every 3-4 hours. Then take 5 more klonopin every 8 hours. Take 1200mg of neurontin every 12 hours with the 1st dose being when you took the first 5 klonopin. Repeat these steps till all the meds are gone. Also take 300mg of serquil every night along with 7-13 benadryll. Approximately 30 hours after your last use take subs twice a day for 4-5 days. It’s just a transition to subs with no withdrawal, because subs alone and you will still be sick. Find a sub dr, get a script of subs, gather all the meds mentioned above doing heroin. I did this along with my girl and we had maybe 2% withdral symptoms. You have to have a script of subs for this to work cuz if you run out of subs you are screwed. I hope this helps somebody. This is no bullshit. It really works!

I’m very concerned about your recipe for kicking heroin. You recommend using tramadol, which is an opiate. If you take suboxone less than 24 hours after taking tramadol you’ll go into precipitated withdrawal bc tramadol is an opiate. Everything else sounds ok, but people must be clear that you must not take suboxone until at least 24 hours after your last dose of tramadol. Precipitated withdrawals are even worse than the typical withdrawal symptoms you’ll feel while waiting until you can take suboxone. I’ve done it once by mistake. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

I agree, I recently detoxed while I was in jail. Boy oh boy, that was a nightmare. I couldn’t eat, or sleep or even sit still. I was a wreck. Then like an idiot, right after I was released, I got high again. It was like I forgot the hell I just went through. I don’t blame my boyfriend, because I make my own choices. However, it doesn’t make it any easier to stay clean when he’s doing a fat line right in front of me. Now I’m kicking again, because I’m tired of this life. Always needing a fix, and I can’t do anything without it. If we can’t find it my bf gets mad and treats me like shit, like it’s my fault. He’s always accusing me of doing more or taking some. He is destroying our already damaged relationship, and I am not sure how much more of this crap I can take. He’s a druggie, and doesn’t care what it is, if it’ll get him high, he’s gonna do it. Recently he’s poppin xanax. He likes to pass out for hours. The longest record was 18 hours straight. It’s sad to watch. I feel like he’s holding us back in life, and he just doesn’t care anymore. I’m on the verge of leaving his sorry ass. Detox is my last hope. It would be nice if he would change. Hopefully seeing me do it will inspire him. If not I have to move on, I don’t want this shitty life anymore.

There’s nothing ever going to be easy about kicking heroin. It never has been easy. The information that I just read is true and I believe it. I always suspected it and now I know that there’s a few more glands involved in quitting heroin than I thought. Hopefully I can feed this area of my brain. Thanks for the tip. Now I must detox. Much love to you and everyone out there.

Yes I agree. I’m an idiot who has done 4 Detox’s in the last 6 months, yes exactly, I am a friggin idiot, I am, but that’s me. I keep bouncing back, then I think, oh lets just have one last pin, just for old times sake and bang there it is, going back around for another go on the ROLLERCOASTER.

However bad the pain is getting off heroin, you’ll get better quicker than you think. But your brain will fool you and make you forget just how painful it was. You’ll be tempted to do it all over again. But it is a force not to mess with. It is important to keep in mind, the hell you just went through to get off heroin in first place.